Prime Minister Julia Gillard has met her Lao counterpart ahead of the official opening of the Asia Europe Summit in Vientiane.

This is the second time Ms Gillard has attended the biannual summit, which brings together about 50 leaders and ministerial representatives.

The summit will provide the Prime Minister her first chance to talk to world leaders about the Asia Century white paper and Australia's successful bid for a temporary seat at the United Nations Security Council.

Ms Gillard will also continue to press for trade liberalisation.

She held her first bilateral meeting with the Laos prime minister Thongsing Thammavong last night.

Ms Gillard is also scheduled to meet French president Francios Hollande and, for the first time, sit down for talks with Burma's president Thein Sien.

She also has bilateral meetings planned with Cambodia and Pakistan.

The Prime Minister will then travel to Bali to attend the Bali Democracy Forum.

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